Fabulous medieval property for sale

Bolton Percy Gatehouse near Tadcaster has been put up for sale. The fully-restored Grade II* listed timber-framed building dates from the 1400s and originally formed the entrance of the village rectory and a courtyard of medieval buildings.

John Grainger

A stunning slice of North Yorkshire’s built history has been put up for sale near Tadcaster.

Bolton Percy Gatehouse is a fully-restored Grade II* listed timber-framed building which dates from the 1400s and originally formed the entrance of the village rectory and a courtyard of medieval buildings.

The ancient property is one of three historic properties put on the market after the owner, Vivat Trust, a national building preservation trust and registered charity, went into liquidation last summer.

Property agent Eddisons has not put a price on the property, saying it will “let the market decide”; offers are being invited from interested parties.

Accommodation in the gatehouse, which is in the centre of the village, between All Saints’ Church and the Crown Inn pub, includes a two-bedroom suite and dining area on the first floor, plus a kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor, as well as a private garden.

Last summer, Vivat Trust was letting the property out as a holiday home for £428 per week during the winter and £759 per week, and its accounts show a total income for the period between April 2014 and January 2015 of more than £16,000.

Abdul Jambo, associate director at Eddisons, said on Monday: “It only went on the market on Thursday, but we’ve already had some interest.

“It’ll be hard to separate the people who are genuinely interested in buying from those who are interested in it just because it’s a novelty – a lot of people don’t realise the responsibility that comes with owning a historic buildings. So over the coming weeks we’ll whittle the list down and sort out the ones who are serious about buying it.”

Grade II* listed buildings are regarded as particularly important and “of more than special interest”. Only 5.5 per cent of listed buildings are Grade II*.

Owning a listed building is widely regarded as a privilege, and many owners see themselves as the “steward” of the property, safeguarding it for future generations.

However, there are restrictions on the changes that may be made to a listing building, both on the outside and the inside. Owners will need to apply for Listed Building Consent for most types of work that affect the ‘special architectural or historic interest’ of their home.